Leaders of Belgian political parties, with the exception of the nationalist Vlaams Belang party, have approved a proposal to set up a parliamentary commission (“the commission”) examining Belgium’s colonial past, particularly in the Congo. The scope of the commission may be restricted to King Leopold II’s brutal regime between 1885 to 1908, or it may extend into Belgium’s entire colonial past. In Belgian schools, students have been taught that Belgium helped civilise the African continent, and this lack of sufficient education on the topic has been instrumental in preventing any forms of atonement until now. The recent announcement of a parliamentary commission reflects not only an acknowledgement that wrongs were committed, but an intention to atone for such acts, provided that the commission delivers.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE COMMISSION
Parliament speaker, Patrick Dewael, has described the commission as a variation of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission following South Africa’s fall of apartheid. In structuring the commission, Belgium may consider the role of experts and witnesses, reparations, and issuing a formal apology. South Africa’s example shows that a commission is a long process where many victims have been compensated, yet there are still cases that have not yet been accounted for, since Nelson Mandela’s successors have not reflected the same level of commitment to the effort for justice as he did. The Belgian commission’s effectiveness will depend on the government’s commitment to it. The recent actions of the Belgian parliament and royal family spark some confidence that a dark chapter in the country’s history may finally be addressed.
ROYAL REGRET
On 30 June 2020, the 60th anniversary of Congolese independence, Belgian King Philippe sent a letter of regret for his nation’s colonial past to Congolese President Tshisekedi. Whether or not the parliamentary commission focuses on Leopold II’s actions alone, both the King’s letter and the announcement of a commission reflect an intention to address past wrongs.
Amidst the Belgian royal family, there are still those such as Prince Laurent who say that King Leopold II was not responsible for the suffering in the Congo since he never set foot in the colony. Former Deputy Prime Minister Louis Michel said in 2010 that these were false accusations since the King’s acts were a normal practice at the time. However, these defences are not substantively proportionate to the facts below.
KING LEOPOLD II’S LEGACY
The late king received the territory under the premise of improving the lives of Africans. However, it became an exploitative regime built on forced labour. Even while the rest of the European world was focused on imperialism, it still condemned what transpired in the Congo following a British journalist’s exposé, forcing the Belgian parliament to take over the colony in 1908.
The king’s actions led to the deaths of 10 million Congolese people, enslavement, and the forcible removal of children from their families. If people did not meet rubber production quotas, they faced amputation of limbs, a punishment that even children were subjected to. In addition to these atrocities, 267 Congolese people were displayed as exhibits in the Africa Museum that King Leopold had built on the grounds of his palace. The death toll and torture of this regime led to the label of the “hidden holocaust”.
SOLUTION THROUGH COMMISSION
Belgium was most recently confronted by its colonial past following the public outcry from George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis. The country has seen its biggest anti-racism protests with 10,000 protestors, which have led to the vandalism of Leopold II’s statues. If the public is to benefit from raising awareness of these atrocities, the memory of these acts must be not forgotten. Rather than tearing down the statues, they ought to be placed in museums and used for educational purposes. Children in schools, particularly in Belgium, should be taught of this history. Accountability for such violations stems from recognising and acknowledging that such violations exist.
The commission is a step in the right direction, however, for the commission to be effective, it must result in Belgium acknowledging and atoning for the atrocities committed during its colonial exploits. Focusing on Leopold II’s regime alone will still reflect progress and recognition that have been absent in the Belgian political sphere for over a century. Failure to effectively acknowledge and act on the findings of the parliamentary commission, however, will hinder efforts towards equality, reconciliation, and any efforts to aid the Congo moving forward.
Jibran is a fourth year Law and Economics student at the University of Canberra (UC), with a growing passion in International Law. He hopes to make a difference through developing a portfolio of written content alongside pursuing a career as a legal practitioner.